France and Britain’s foreign ministers were to make a brief visit to Israel Friday and meet with Foreign Minister Israel Katz to discuss efforts to prevent a regional conflagration, the ministry announced, as the military remained on high alert in anticipation of potential attacks by Hezbollah and Iran.

The tripartite meeting between Katz, David Lammy and Stephane Sejourne is expected to touch on efforts to reach a hostage deal, with Katz set to tout the need to impose harsh sanctions on Iran over its nuclear, missile and drone programs.

While there was no official confirmation regarding the meeting by either the British or the French foreign ministries, Sky News cited a diplomatic source confirming Lammy’s trip.

In a statement Thursday, the British top diplomat urged the UK’s Middle Eastern partners to “choose peace” at this “crucial moment for global stability.”

“The coming hours and days could define the future of the Middle East,” Lammy said, reiterating his call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, adding that his country will use “every diplomatic lever” to achieve that objective.

IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, meanwhile, said in a press conference that the military had increased its readiness in recent days as potential Hezbollah and Iranian attacks against Israel loom. “We continue intelligence gathering and attack efforts in the skies of Lebanon, and on all fronts at all times.”

Hezbollah and Iran have vowed to strike the Jewish state following the killings of top terror leaders late last month, but have yet to take action.

All eyes in the region are now on a high-stakes summit for a ceasefire-hostage deal in Gaza that is being held in Qatar, with Iranian officials indicating its outcome could affect their attack plans.

The talks in Doha were set to headline the agenda for a security cabinet meeting Thursday night at IDF Headquarters in Tel Aviv, according to reports in Hebrew media outlets.

The cabinet will meet in “the pit,” as the underground command room at the Kirya military headquarters is known, one week after its last meeting there to drill for a potential emergency situation, Channel 12 news reported.

Last week’s meeting was the first time such a conference was held there since the night of April 13-14, when Iran launched some 300 missiles and drones at Israel, almost all of which were intercepted.

The high-level team of negotiators in Doha included Mossad chief David Barnea and Shin Bet head Ronen Bar. Hamas officials were not participating but were to be apprised of developments by Arab mediators.

The Biden Administration, which has been a key mediator in the talks, said Thursday that all sides should attend the negotiations in order to get a deal implemented.

The White House urged Israel and Hamas to compromise and said progress is still possible in the coming days.

White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told CNN that information shows Iran has not moved off its threat to attack Israel, including potentially through proxies. The US is watching the situation closely and is prepared, though “hopefully it doesn’t come to that,” he said.

In a separate phone briefing, Kirby said that while it is still uncertain whether Iran will indeed attack Israel, any strike would likely happen with little to no notice.

Earlier this week, US President Joe Biden said he expected Iran to hold off on its attack if a ceasefire is reached between Israel and Hamas.

The Iranians have repeatedly said they seek retaliation for the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last month, for which they have blamed Israel. Hezbollah has said it will hit back at Israel for the killing of its military commander Fuad Shukr in a Beirut airstrike two weeks ago.

In preparation for possible escalation with Hezbollah, the Haifa Naval Base carried out a joint drill this week with several other units and a hospital, simulating war in Lebanon.

Participating in the joint drill were the IDF’s 146th Division, the Home Front Command’s Search and Rescue Brigade, and the Oded Reserve Infantry Brigade, as well as the Israel Police and Rambam Hospital.

The drill simulated “defense and attack scenarios in the northern maritime arena,” including defending the maritime border, evacuating wounded under fire, and other emergencies, the IDF said

Since October 8, Hezbollah-led forces have attacked Israeli communities and military posts along the border on a near-daily basis, with the group saying it is doing so to support Gaza amid the war there.